EP3763595A1 - Vehicle, in particular railway vehicle, with a device for generating images, animations for external viewers - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle (2), in particular a rail vehicle, with a device for generating images, animations or the like for external viewers, the device having at least one display (14) which is displayed as a function of the speed of the vehicle (2 ) is controllable, as well as a control device for controlling the at least one display (14).

Description

The invention relates to a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, with a device for generating images, animations for external viewers, and a corresponding method for generating such images and animations.

Rail vehicles are provided with information for outside viewers. The information can be, for example, advertising or information about the respective vehicle, the vehicle operator and the route traveled. Consistent information is usually applied to the outer shell of the vehicle, e.g. by painting or foiling. Information that changes depending on the location and time of the vehicle can be shown on display boards or displays.

From the EP 2 423 908 A2 it is known to use special fastening elements to attach a large-area printed tarpaulin for advertising purposes or the like to an outer wall of a rail vehicle. This solution has the advantage that the tarpaulin can be exchanged relatively quickly, so that the outer wall of the rail vehicle is available for various advertising purposes.

In the US 2005/0110960 A1 describes a stationary device for generating one or more images for people who are in a vehicle driving past it. The stationary system consists of a number of projectors, each of which, based on the principle of conventional films, generates an animated partial image on a corresponding stationary projection surface. The projectors are controlled depending on the speed of the vehicle, so that an image or an animation is generated for the people in the vehicle, which image "moves" with the speed of the vehicle. As an alternative to the projectors, a corresponding number of electronic display panels arranged next to one another, such as LEDs or LCDs, can also be used, which are also controlled in such a way that a stationary image or the like is generated for people in the vehicle.

Similar to the prior art cited above, in EP 0859 352 A2 discloses a stationary information display system for people who are on a moving train. The system consists of several information displays, which are arranged at a certain distance from each other on the track. The individual information displays together generate the information required or desired for the passenger.

One problem of the solutions known from the prior art is that the movement of the vehicle makes it difficult for outside persons to recognize information attached to the vehicle.

The invention is based on the object of creating an information system which is attached to the vehicle and by means of which persons located outside the vehicle are reliably supplied with information.

This object is achieved according to the invention with a device attached to a vehicle, which has at least one display for generating images or animations for external viewers, which can be controlled depending on the speed of the vehicle, and a control device for controlling the at least one display.

The advantage of the invention is that the vehicle moving at a certain speed can provide information that is easily recognizable for people, such as passengers who want to use a train approaching the platform. The passenger information provided can be of very different types, e.g. general information about the train itself (e.g. DB-ICE 517 to Munich) or very specific information about the individual cars (e.g. car no. 20, 2nd class; dining car, etc. ).

When the train enters a train station, the displays can show exactly where the passenger doors are when the train stops, so that the passengers can already move in that direction. Furthermore, a wagon identification, for example a wagon number, can be displayed when the train arrives at the point at which the respective wagon will come to a stop. However, advertising can also be placed in the open, price offers can be made or the operator logo can be shown.

The at least one display is preferably attached to the outside of the vehicle. As an alternative, an arrangement inside the vehicle is conceivable for protection against the effects of the weather, in particular directly behind a window pane of the vehicle.

The particular advantage of the display, which is controlled as a function of the speed of the vehicle, is that an image or video can be generated for a certain period of time on a virtual image surface that is stable or that is stationary for the viewer or that moves only slowly. In particular, when the vehicle is still at a relatively high speed, the information can be seen more easily than on a display whose image or information moves with the vehicle.

The at least one display is controlled by the control device. The control device controls the pixels of the display, preferably depending on the speed of the vehicle and the position of the desired image.

Advantageous further developments are the subject of the dependent claims which refer back to them.

The display advantageously comprises a large number of pixels which, as will be explained in more detail later, are controlled accordingly. Different types of displays can be used to generate corresponding pixels, such as light-emitting diodes (LED), organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) or liquid crystals (LCD).

The display advantageously has an elongated shape and is attached to the vehicle in its vertical orientation. The display consists in an advantageous manner of several rows of pixels which extend in the horizontal and vertical directions. In a minimal version, however, it is also possible to design the display from just one row of pixels, e.g. a vertical strip of LEDs. The pixels are preferably lined up one behind the other in one or more columns in a vertical direction.

In order to generate an image at a predetermined position, a virtual image area can be defined, the position and speed of which can be stored in the control device relative to the vehicle. Alternatively or in addition, the position of the virtual image area can be specified from the outside, for example by inputting the train crew into a User interface or through markings or transmitters arranged adjacent to the route, which can be recognized by a camera or receiving unit provided on the vehicle.

So that the information or display generated by the display appears longer, especially at high vehicle speeds, it is proposed to arrange several displays distributed over the length of the vehicle. The displays are preferably controlled jointly via the control device. The individual LEDs of the display are activated by the control device depending on the current speed of the vehicle in accordance with the image to be projected within the virtual image area.

A virtual image is understood to mean the generation of an image surface that is standing for the outside viewer or that moves more slowly in relation to the vehicle, which is only visible until the last display on the vehicle has been activated. The control of the display can be repeated as often as desired, preferably as long as the image information is to be made available in a suitable manner.

When the display or displays are activated or deactivated depends on the position and speed of the vehicle, which can be determined for example by GPS, transponders, optical markings with image recognition or by so-called balises that are attached between the tracks and serve for data communication between the rail vehicle and the route. The speed of the vehicle can of course also be determined directly via a sensor, e.g. via an optical sensor that measures the speed towards the track.

The displays are preferably arranged between the windows or between the doors of the vehicle, for example in the case of a bus or the car of a train. The display is preferably as high as the window, but it can also be made larger (at most as large as the vehicle) or smaller.

However, it is also conceivable to integrate the displays in the windows of the vehicle or, in the case of a rail vehicle, also in the windows of the corresponding doors or from apply inside. The latter would be particularly useful when retrofitting the vehicle with such displays. The display can also be attached to the roof of a vehicle, which would be advantageous, for example, for trains that enter lower-lying stations. This variant also improves the view of the displays when the train travels over bridges or the view from houses.

The use of such displays is particularly suitable for multi-part trains (rail vehicles), the displays being attached to one or more cars of the train.

In order to protect the displays against environmental influences, vandalism, etc., they are advantageously arranged in a protected manner behind a viewing window. These transparent viewing windows are adapted to the size of the display and integrated into the body of the vehicle. As already mentioned above, the integration of the displays in the windows of the vehicle or an attachment from the inside are conceivable alternatives, which also ensure appropriate protection of the displays.

A more cost-effective alternative is to design the display as a film, which can then be glued to the body or to the car body. For example, LEDs can be embedded in a film, the film being able to serve both as a carrier material for the LEDs and for fastening to the outer surface of the rail vehicle.

Analogous to the image repetition rate or image repetition frequency (in Hz or in fps) known from optics, a stationary image for an outside stationary observer can be generated from certain speeds of the train by activating the LEDs accordingly. The displays attached to the vehicle create a "still image", so to speak, which does not move with the vehicle for the outside viewer. Because of the "still image", the information is much easier to see for people standing at a platform or a bus stop, for example, than on a display in which the image generated by the display "moves" with the vehicle.

A transport system according to the invention comprises a vehicle according to one of the above claims, as well as a rail line and at least one on the rail line arranged position mediator to determine the beginning of a virtual image area. The position mediator can be formed by a transponder, a balise or a colored marking. For example, a position mediator such as a position marker can be provided on a building arranged adjacent to the rail.

The vehicle preferably has a detection device which reads out information supplied by the position mediator about a predetermined position of the virtual image area. The predetermined position of the virtual image surface can begin directly at the position mediator or at a point away from the position mediator along the route, for example at a position spaced apart from the position mediator in the direction of travel or opposite to the direction of travel.

The recognition device is preferably a reader for transponders or a camera. The recognition device is linked to the control device and supplies it with the information required for recognizing the position of the virtual image area.

According to a method according to the invention for generating images and / or animations with the aid of displays attached to the vehicle, an image is generated by defining a virtual image area at a predetermined position that moves at a speed relative to the vehicle or is stationary. The virtual image area is preferably designed to be rectangular. The height of the virtual image area is defined by the height of the at least one display.

The length of the image area is determined by the activity of the at least one display. In simple terms, the virtual image area begins where the at least one display, which is arranged on the vehicle and traversing the image area with the vehicle, outputs image points for the first time. Accordingly, the virtual image area ends where the at least one display moved with the vehicle becomes inactive.

If further displays are provided, these are also preferably activated when the virtual image area is reached and when the virtual image area is left deactivated. The image generation is preferably started for each display when the virtual image area is reached and ended when the virtual image area is left.

In a preferred variant of the method, the picture elements of an image to be displayed that coincide with pixels of the display in the respective instantaneous position of the display are displayed while the virtual image surface is traversed by the at least one display. To this end, the image to be displayed can be stored in the control device as image information or image file. Together with the position of the image to be displayed or the virtual image surface on which the image is to be projected, a virtual image is thus obtained. If, for example, pixels of the virtual image now coincide with pixels of a display located within the virtual image area, the corresponding pixels of the display are activated, i.e. shown.

In an expedient development of the invention, the image elements of the image to be displayed are displayed again while the virtual image area is traversed by a further display, and these elements coincide with pixels of the further display in the respective instantaneous position of the further display. The image is thus rebuilt for a viewer. The more displays pass through the virtual screen, the clearer the image becomes for the viewer. This process is ideally repeated for each display on the vehicle until the vehicle has passed the virtual screen or has come to a standstill.

The image assigned to a position is formed by the at least one or more displays. The virtual image area is consequently aligned with the image area of the at least one display while the latter travels through the virtual image area. Likewise, the image areas of the following displays are ideally aligned with the virtual image area as soon as they are within the virtual image area. Because of the alignment of the at least one display with the virtual image surface, which is necessary in particular to create a still image as possible, rail vehicles are particularly suitable for implementing the claimed invention.

The only figure shows a carriage of a rail vehicle with several displays.

In the following, a preferred exemplary embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention and the corresponding method for controlling the displays attached to the vehicle are described with reference to the figure.

The figure shows a rail vehicle, more precisely the carriage 2 of a multi-part rail vehicle. The car 2 has a car body 4 which is supported on a corresponding chassis. In the present embodiment, the chassis comprises two so-called bogies 6 and 8, which are arranged more or less at the respective ends of the car body 4. On each longitudinal side of the car body 4, distributed over the length of the car body 4, nine windows 10 and two double-leaf doors 12 are arranged. As can be seen in the figure, twelve LED displays 14 are arranged between the windows 10 in the present exemplary embodiment, the length of which extends approximately over the height of the corresponding window 10. The size of the LED display is adapted to the corresponding size of the vehicle or car 2, among other things.

The LED displays 14 are each arranged behind a viewing window (not shown) so that they are protected from external environmental influences, vandalism, etc.

The LED displays 14 are controlled during operation of the vehicle, in which the car 2 is moving at a certain speed, that an image, an animation or the like is generated for outside viewers (e.g. passengers on the platform) that does not appear moved with the vehicle or the carriage 2. The individual LEDs of the display 14 are activated as a function of the current speed of the carriage 2 according to the image to be projected within a virtual image area. The virtual image is generated by activating individual pixels in the display 14 on the moving carriage 2 and appears until the last display 14 on the carriage 2 has been activated. For example, information such as "DB-ICE 517 to Munich" can be displayed over a large area.

How long the image is generated depends - as already mentioned - on the speed of the passing car 2. If one assumes, for example, that the carriage 2 moves at a speed of 25 m / s (= 90 km / h), then one would be Distance between the first and the last LED display 14 of the car 2 of 25 m for the corresponding observer, the image is visible for about 1 s. The process of virtual image generation, i.e. the reactivation of the individual displays, can be repeated as long as the car 2 or the train consisting of several cars 2 is in a certain area (platform or the like) in which the Image with the appropriate information can be perceived by outsiders. On the other hand, a certain minimum speed of the carriage 2 is required so that a corresponding image can arise in front of the human eye. The minimum speed (and also the maximum speed of the vehicle) is in turn dependent on the distance and the number of LED displays 14. Seen in this way, from a frame rate of approx. 30 frames / s it is generally ensured that the human eye is given a fluid image impression, knowing full well that the frame rate of 24 Hz used in the cinema limits the moving display of images.

In order to increase the effect of the image display, particularly in the case of multi-part trains (for example subways, regional trains, high-speed trains), several cars of the train can also be equipped with the LED displays 14. For example, every car 2 of the train can be equipped with it, or only selected cars, for example the first and the last car of the train. The number and size of the LED displays 14 can also be matched to the specific application. It is also conceivable to make the number of LED displays 14 to be activated dependent on the speed of the carriage 2. The higher the speed of the train, the fewer LED displays 14 are activated, since the frame rate also increases with the speed of the car 2. Accordingly, fewer LED displays 14 could be provided or activated in an intermediate car of the multi-part rail vehicle than on the directly or indirectly adjoining car 2. Many combinations or variants are thus possible in which the invention can be used sensibly. Instead of LEDs for generating corresponding pixels, other types of displays can also be used, such as organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) or liquid crystals (LCD).

List of reference symbols

2

dare

4th

Car body

6.8

Bogies

10

window

12

Doors

14th

LED displays

Claims (11)

Vehicle, in particular rail vehicle, with a device for generating images and / or animations for external viewers, the device having at least one display (14) for displaying an image or video for a certain time on a virtual one that is stationary for the viewer or that moves only slowly Has an image surface which can be controlled as a function of the speed of the vehicle (2), and a control device for controlling the at least one display (14). The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the display (14) is externally attached to the vehicle. Vehicle according to Claim 1 or 2, a plurality of displays (14) being provided over the length of the vehicle. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the displays (14) are arranged between the windows (10) or between the doors (12) of the vehicle. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle is designed as a multi-part rail vehicle, the displays (14) being attached to one or more cars (2) of the rail vehicle. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the displays (14) are arranged in a protected manner behind a viewing window. Vehicle according to one of Claims 1 to 5, the displays (14) being designed as films and being glued on. A transport system, comprising a vehicle according to one of the above claims, as well as a rail line and at least one position mediator arranged on the rail line for determining the beginning of a virtual image area, the vehicle having a detection device which receives information about a predetermined position of the reads the virtual screen. Method for generating images and / or animations with the aid of at least one display (14) attached to the vehicle, in which the vehicle is moving a. an image is generated by defining a virtual image area at a predetermined position that moves at a speed relative to the vehicle or is stationary, b. the image generation for each display (14) is started when the virtual image area is reached and is ended when the virtual image area is left. Method according to claim 9, wherein the picture elements of an image to be displayed are displayed while the virtual image area is traversed by the at least one display (14) which coincide with pixels of the display in the respective instantaneous position of the display (14). Method according to claim 10, wherein while the virtual image area is traversed by a further display (14), the picture elements of the image to be displayed are displayed again, which in the respective momentary position of the further display (14) coincide with pixels of the further display (14).

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